David Martin

Humans have offloaded cognition to tools since ancient times, from the first tally mark to calculators and GPS devices. What makes generative AI (GenAI) different is the nature of the work it performs. Unlike previous tools, GenAI doesn’t merely support human thinking; increasingly, it substitutes for it, with consequences for a specific set of human skills.

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AI is no longer a distant promise. Leaders and managers have woven it into the fabric of their daily work lives. However, frontline employees have not fully embraced the technology. While more than three-quarters of leaders and managers say they use generative AI (GenAI) several times a week, regular use among frontline employees has stalled at 51%. This gap comes at a critical time in the development of AI.